Fluid heater temperature control system



Feb. 19, 1952 c. H. BARNARD 2,5 6, 03

FLUID HEATER TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 29. 1948 l4 on. T0 BE HEATED i Q an IQ 2 0 i 57 :caxcy A) "a; 1G) 52 p. 1 i

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CLAYTON H. BARNARD BY Patented Feb. 19, 1952 FLUID"HEATER'TEMPERATURTE CDNTROL' SYSTEM Clayton H. Barnard, .Cleveland,..0hio,=,assignorztoa.

Bailey Meter Company, a corporation of Delaware Applicationflanuary 29, 1948;Serial No. 5,071

7 Claims. 1 This invention relates to Y heater control systems; and more particularly to =systemsforcontrolling combustion in a-heaterso as to maintain the temperature ofa heated medium at a predetermined value;

To maintain the temperature ofa heated medium ata predetermined value it isnecessary thatcombustion control means for the heater be maderesponsive to-conditions which indicate changes in its operationand which, if not-correctedqwill in time result in a change in the temperature of-themedium. The system should also be responsive to changes in-the temperature of 'the'heated'm-edium so that any variation from the desired value will alsoefiect a change in.

operation-of the heater to return the temperature-to thedesired value.

When most ellicien-t combustion of the fuel takes place in the heater there maybe obtained fora given fuel supply a heatingof the medium to thedesi-red temperature. The draft through the fur-n'ace to produce most efiicient combustion with the given fuel supply may be readily determined.- It will be appreciated that any-variation in the draft from-the value determined will result in a more in'efiicient combustion and, if-this is permittedto continue, there will-be intime a drop in temperature of the materialor medium heated; Even though the supply of fuel may be constantthere may. besomevariationuin the quality: of the fuel so :thata-change in the draft istneeded. to continue operation of the heater at maximum efiiciency: Ina preferred form of my invention: theremay beprovided means responsive topressure in the heater asan indication of draft;- means responsive. to. the oxygen content inzthe flue gases iasan indicationof combustion, and means adapted tolbe'actuated by either'one or. both of said means for controlling :the:position of' a draft regulating damper. Theremay also be included means responsive to the temperature of the heated material or medium for regulating the supply of fuel and providingpa further control of the damper operating, means.

An object of my. invention is to provide an improved control system for a heater. Another object is to provide an improved system for regulating the operation of a heater so as to maintainthe temperature of a material or medium heated thereby at a constant value. Yet another object is to provide a system which operates to control the draft in a heater in response to. measurements of the draft and the oxygen content of the flue gases. Still another object is to provide a system that-operates to control the; draft =1- ot thefheater; in response: to; changes in the. temperature:ofparmedium: heated, and in response. to: changes.- 11111121118.v oxygen content of the .flue gas andithe. pressure inthe heater;

Other objects. will. become apparent in. the coursesofi the following :5 description.

Inxthe drawing, the single .fignreshows. a heater having: my, improved ltcontrolr system associated therew-ithr.

ReferringxtmthesdrawingsitiwillLbe:noted that there: is shovvm-a.,hea'ter I having fue'l..s11pplied thereto through 1 nozzles 23 locatedratc opposite poin-tseintthe side walls; Itwill .bewappreciated that other nozzles; may.. be.r1ocated;.=at different points about .the-sheater; i if needed; As .shown herein,.,fuel.oi1 sis suppliedito each ofztheinozzles throng-111a conduit .3; vandsgars yissconducted .from

a: conduit 4 throughbranch. conduits .5 and 6 1 to spaces: in .thBlzIlOZZlBS surroundings the.- ends of the conduits. .A'tz eachi 0t: the.-nozzles are: passage meansaa: supplying; air tov the interior of; the heater for: supporting combustion of the oil and/ or gas,. and r the combustion. gases are dis:-

charged (from-the heater-through attacks I 0 -.under the control of a'damp er H;

Theh'ea-ter. shown herein is .=designed.especially for. heating 5 oil during,- its refining process: Extending along-g opposite- Walls of the; heater are conduits: I Leonnected at their .endsdn series and :anaoil -.supp;ly -v conduit I 4 is .connected in parallel paths: through: branch: conduits-1 I5; I 61- v andz the series: .connectediconduitsr to .-a discharge-sconduit .lil' -at thelower: end. of the. heater. Projecting upwardly from-thesbottom 0t the heater, midway between the-nozzles 2,:,'is a; baflle:having; spaced sideewalls; l 8; l 9vwhich rare-joined? at their .upper .endssby anwalliflt The fiamesxfrom themozzles are directed .-by-thez-baflie .overrtheeconduits l 2 -t0 therstack-zl ll'wh-ich communicates with the heater at=a =p oi-nt-abeve the baifle.

Oil is .-an..exa'mp5le of- .a hon-homogeneous :cflluent, ,becauseiwhen heated it has-ia varyingcontent of liquidsvaporiand gases.

For. controlling-the supply of fuel tothe heater, there is: provided: a-valve-device 22 in the gas supply conduitc 41. Arranged-in the discharge conduit. l T! is an. elemen-t123 varyinggin resistance inresponse. toschangesein the temperature-of the heated oil-,- ;and abridge-network 24-includes-the element 23.411 onewof; itslegs-sothat'.it: may;='be

unbalanced on variations in oil temperatures. An

amplifier fan-d motor-control.device:25,- which may be. like that-l disclosed in the Ryder. Patent 2,235,317; .granted March. 3;, 194 2,. is: connected toan :ad-J'usta'ble bridge contact 28 :and to a-diage balance of the bridge.

onally opposite point on the bridge by a conductor 28. A motor 39 is connected to the control device to be energized by the latter for operation in one direction or the other depending upon the direction of the bridge unbalance. Operative connections between the motor and the contact 26 provide for an adjustment of the latter by the motor to restore the bridge to a balanced condition. The motor 33 is also connected to the valve stem 33 of a pilot valve 34 for controlling communication of a conduit 35 with the atmosphere and with a pressure fluid supply 36. This pilot valve is like that disclosed in the Johnson Patent 2,054,464, issued September 15, 1936, and needs no further description herein. It is sumcient to say that an upward movement of the valve stem results in a pressure increase in the conduit 35, while a downward movement of the valve stem produces a drop in the pressure in conduit 35. from the conduit 35 and operates on a variation of the pressure from a predetermined value to supply fluid at a continuously increasing or decreasing pressure through conduits 31 and 38 to a diaphragm 39 for positioning the valve 22.

The relay 36 comprises a pivoted beam 42 which is operative to control a fluid supply valve 43 and a fluid exhaust valve 44. A rod 45 acts upon. the beam and is connected to diaphragms 46, 41, and a manually adjustable spring 48. The pressure fluid supplied by the conduit 35 acts on the diaphragm 46 for forcing the rod against the beam to open the supply valve 43, and the pressure supplied to the conduit 31 also acts on the lower side of the diaphragm 41 for urging the rod away from the pivoted beam. The opposite sides of the diaphragm 4'! are connected in communication with each other past a restricting valve 49 so that the pressure at the upper side of the diaphragm changes in the same direction as the pressure at the lower side but at a reduced rate. This relay is disclosed in the Patent Re. 21,804, issued to Gorrie on May 20, 1M1, and further description is believed to be unnecessary. When the temperature of the oil in the conduit 11 is at the desired value and the bridge 24 is balanced, the relay 36 supplies fluid pressure to the diaphragm 39 for holding the valve 22 in a position to supply gas to the burner at a rate which should maintain the desired temperature of the oil. If the oil temperature increases for some reason, the bridge 24 becomes unbalanced and effects operation of the motor in a direction to decrease the pressure supplied from the pilot valve to the relay 36. The motor positions the contact 26 at the same time to restore the The decreased pressure acting on the diaphragm 46 results in an upward movement of the rod 42 to permit a closing of the supply valve 43 until the pressure at the lower side of the diaphragm 41 drops to a value at which the relay is balanced. This reduced pressure acting on the diaphragm 39 results in a closing of the valve 22 to reduce the supply of gas to the heater. Pressure at the upper side of the diaphragm 41 passes slowly by the valve 49 to the lower side of this diaphragm and causes a continued unbalance to reduce the pressure supplied to the diaphragm 39 until the oil temperature is returned to the desired value, or until the valve 22 is fully closed. A drop in the oil temperature below the desired value results in operation of the relay to increase the pressure on diaphragm 39 for opening the valve 22 until the temperature increases again to the desired A relay 36 receives fluid pressure value, or until the valve is in its full open po-- sition.

By providing means responsive to conditions in the heater that would result in a change in the oil temperature if permitted to continue, it is possible to regulate the operation of the heater by such means so as to prevent in most cases any substantial change in the oil temperature. It will be appreciated that changes in the oxygen content of the gases supplied from the heater to the stack l0 indicate that changes have taken place in the ratio of the fuel and air supply to the heater. This may be due to changes in the draft, the fuel supply, the quality of the fuel, or a combination of them all. Any change in the draft may be detected immediately by providing conduits 52 and 53 communicating with the interior of the heater at points adjacent the nozzles 2. A drop in the pressure at these points indicates an increase in the draft, and an increase in the pressure indicates a. reduced draft. If a determination is made of the draft required to maintain the combustion giving the greatest amount of heat for the fuel supplied, then it will be seen that either an increase or decrease in the draft from this value will result in a reduction of the heat obtained. If the oxvgen content of the combustion gases is determined when the combustion is such that the maximum heat is obtained for the fuel supplied, then any variation of the oxygen content from this value will indicate a. change in the heater operation to give less heat.

To determine the oxygen content of the combustion gases, there is provided a device 55 extending through the baflle wall 29 to a point adjacent the entrance to the stack ID for taking a sample of the gases and delivering it to an analyzer 56. A conduit 51 discharges water through the pipe 55A for producing a suction which pulls the gas sample into the analyzer 56.

The sample is first separated from the water, then mixed at the analyzer with a fuel, and then burned on an element forming a leg 58 of a bridge 59 and varying in resistance as its temperature changes. An amplifier and motor control device 69, similar to the device 25, is connected to an adjustable contact SI for the bridge 59, and is connected by a conductor 62 to a diagonally opposite point of the bridge. A motor 63 is energized by the device 69 when the bridge is unbalanced, and operative connections 65 are provided between the motor and the contact 6| for positioning the latter to rebalance the bridge. The motor is also connected to the stem of a pilot valve 66 for controlling the connection of a conduit 61 in communication with the atmosphere or with a fluid supply 68.

When the combustion in the heater is such that maximum heat is obtained from the fuel supplied, there is usually a small amount of excess oxygen which is carried with the other gases 'of combustion to the stack ii). The sample gas including a portion of this oxygen is supplied to the analyzer 56 where it is mixed with fuel and then burned on the element forming the leg 58 of the bridge 59. As long as the amount of oxygen in the flue gas remains constant, the element forming the bridge leg 58 will be heated to a predetermined temperature. The bridge contact 6| will be positioned by the motor to balance the bridge 59, and the pilot valve 66 will be adjusted to maintain a predetermined pressure in the conduit 61. If the draft increases or the supply of fuel to the heater decreases, the oxygen content of peas- 50s the-afiue 'gas increases and causes an increase in HF-to one side of a diaphragm? I which is subjected on its other side -to atmospheric pressure. The diaphragm carries a member '12 acting on onelegof a bell crank 'lever 73 which is pivotally supported at H;- and'the other leg of" thedveris connected'toa pilot--valvel5'which controls communication of 'aconduit it with the-atmosphere and with a fluid supply 11. The arrangement is such that a pressure drop in the conduit as a resultof'anincreased draftcauses the diaphragm H "toadjust the pilot valve for reducing the pressure in theconduit Hi.

It will be seen' that a change in thedraft through-the"heatercauses'the pressures in conduits 61 and .16 toichange in the same direction. The change Will'take place first in the conduit 16, but it will be followed soon by the operation of the analyzer to unbalance the bridge 59 and effect anno-peration of the motor 63 to position the pilot valve 66 for changing the pressure in the conduit 6'1. A relay 80 'is'provided for'supplying'pressure through'a conduit "8| to a mechanism' 82 to position the damper II in response to changes. in pressure'in the conduits 61 and 16. This relay includesdiaphragms 8'5 and"'86.subjected'on'theirupper sides to'the pressuresthe conduits 6'! and", respectively. A member 81 is connected to the diaphragms and acts on a pivoted beam for positioning a supply valve 88 and an exhaust valve 8'9ito control the pressure in the conduit 81. The pressure supplied to the conduit 8| also acts-on the lower side of the diaphragm'85 to oppose'the action of the pressures onthe upper sides of the diaphragms 85- and 86.

As the draft increasea-therpressure in'the-conduit 16 decreases-immediately so that the member 81 moves upwardly to permit a closingmovement of the valve 88 for reducing the pressure supplied to the conduit 8|. The mechanism 82 then operates under the reduced pressure to move .the damper ll toward its closed position. Any increase in the oxygen content of the combustion gases as a result of the increased draft will cause the analyzer 58 to unbalance the bridge 59 and effect an operation of the motor 63 to decrease the pressure in the conduit 61. This pressure acting on the diaphragm 85 will cause the relay member 81 to move upwar and decrease the pressure supplied to the conduit 8| for effecting a closing movement of the damper H. If the draft remains constant and the fuel supply changes, the change will be detected by the measurement of the oxygen in the flue gases, and the relay 80 will be caused to operate for regulating the pressure acting on the damper actuating mechanism 82. For every change in the operation of the heater there will be a positioning of the damper to restore conditions giving the highest operating efficiency.

In order that changes in the temperature of the heated oil may also determine the positioning of the damper, there is provided a conduit 90 for 'sup lying ressareironr the-conduit :31 :to arsbeb lows--91 acting on :the bell crank 1'13.1opposi-te the diaphragm i I I A explained" above; an increase in oil temperatureresults ini a:. pressure'idroptin the-conduit 31 so that the valve 22 movestoward its closed position. This same pressure: acting on thebellows 9] permits the: bell crank '|3-'-totmove in w a :counterclockwise direction for: reducing :the pressure supplied to the relay 80 through the conduit 16? The-relay then operatestonreduce the pressure in' the conduit 8| so thatthemechanis'm 82 operates to'move-the damperll toward its-closed position. A' drop in the oil temperature'w'ill result in an opening of the 'valve 22'and an opening of the damper l l. I

While there is described in this application one formw'hich my invention may assume in' practice,

it'W-ill be understood that it may be modifiediand embodied in various other forms Without departing from its spirit or the scope of the'appended claims.

What I claim-as new and desire United States Letters-Patent, is:

1. A control system forcontrolling the operation of a heater'to maintain the temperature of a medium heated thereby at a constant value comprising, in combination, means operating in response to the temperature of the heated medium for producin a first controlpressure, valve means responsive to said control pressure forcontrolling the supply of fuel to the heater; differential pressure meansresponsive to said first control pressure and to the-pressure in said heater for producing a second control pressure; means for measuring the oxygen content of the'combustion gases, means controlled by said measuring means for producing a third control pressure, a relay responsive to said second and third control pressures for producing-a fourth c-ontrolpressure, and means responsive to said fourth control pressure for controlling the draft through the heater.

2. A system for controlling the operation-of a confined tubular heater'to maintain the-temperature of a vapo-rousliquid effluent heated thereby to secure by at a constant value comprisin in combination,

means operating in response-to the said eflluent temperaturefor producing a first'control pressure, suspended fuel burner means for said heater, valve means responsiveto said first control' pressurefor controlling the supply of fuel to the heater, differential pressure means responsive to said first control pressure and to the draft through the heater for producing a second control pressure, means including a continuously operable analyzer for measuring the oxygen content of the gases of combustion, means controlled by said measuring means for producing a third control pressure, relay means responsive to the said second and third control pressures for producing a fourth control pressure, and means responsive to said fourth control pressure for controlling the draft through the heater.

3. A control system for controlling the operation of a heater to maintain the efiluent temperature of a non-homogeneous medium heated thereby at a constant value comprising, in combination, means operating in response to the temperature of the heated medium for producing a first control effect, means responsive to said control effect for controlling the supply of fuel to the heater, differential means responsive to said first control effect and to the pressure in said heater for producing a second control effect, means for measuring the oxygen content of the combustion gases, means controlled by said measuring means for producing a third control effect, means responsive to said second and third control effects for producing a fourth control effect, and means responsive to said fourth control effect for controlling the draft through the heater.

4. A system for controlling the operation of a confined tubular heater to maintain. the temperature of a non-homogeneous composition vaporous liquid eiiluent material heated thereby at a constant value comprising, in combination, means operating in response to the effluent temperature of said material for producing a first control effect, suspended fuel burner means for said heater, means responsive to said first control effect for controlling the supply of fuel to the burner means, differential means responsive to said first control effect and to the draft through the heater for producing a second control effect, means including a continuously operable analyzer for measuring the oxygen content of the gases of combustion, means controlled by said measuring means for producing a third control effect, means responsive to the said second and third control effects for producing a fourth control effect, and means responsive to said fourth control effect for controlling the draft through the heater.

5. A system for controlling the operation of a heater to maintain the temperature of a medium heated thereby at a constant value comprising, in. combination, means for measuring the temperature of the heated medium, means for regulating the supply of fuel to the heater, means. for measuring the draft through the heater, means for regulating the draft through the heater, means for measuring the oxygen content of the gases of combustion, means jointly responsive to said temperature measuring means and said draft measuring means operating said fuel supply regulating means, and means responsive to said oxygen measuring means and to said jointly responsive means operating said draft regulatin means.

6. A system for controlling the operation of a heater to maintain the temperature of a nonhomogeneous liquid medium heated thereby at a constant value comprising, in combination, means responsive to the effluent temperature of the heated medium, means responsive to the draft through the heater, means for supplying fuel to the heater, means jointly controlled .by the temperature responsive means and the draft resporisive means for regulating said fuel supplying means, means responsive to the oxygen content of the gases of combustion, means for regulating the draft through the heater, and means operated by the oxygen responsive means and said jointly controlled means actuating said draft regulating means.

7. A system for controlling the operation of a heater having a confined tubular conduit to maintain the temperature of a non-homogeneous composition vaporous liquid efliuent material heated thereby in said conduit at a constant value comprising, in combination, means responsive to the effluent temperature of said material, suspended-fuel burner means for said heater, means for supplying fuel to the burner means, means responsive to the draft through the heater, means responsive to the oxygen content of the gases of combustion, means for controlling the draft through the heater, means jointly controlled by the temperature responsive means and the draft responsive means regulating said fuel supplying means, and means operated by said jointly controlled means and said oxygen responsive means actuating the draft regulating means.

CLAYTON H. BARNARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Ziebolz, Analysis and Design of Translator Chains, volume 1, Text, pages 183 through 187.

Volume II, Diagrams, Figures 269 and 274 (two sheets). Published September 25, 1946, by Askania Regulator Company. 

